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Stick Electrode Smackdown

Hey yall!!

So, this is what I've been up to lately, I ran some welds with 6011, 6013, 7014, and 7018:

And then hammered them apart:

Which was actually pretty fun and very stress relieving. My weakest weld was 7014, then 6013, 6011, and 7018. It honestly wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I was really impressed with how the 7018 held up, considering I ran all these with cheap Hobart electrodes and that 7018 had been sitting out since last winter. What I don't fully understand yet, tho, is the huge difference in the performance of the 70XX electrodes, how one failed so soon and the other held up so well. I know that one is low hydgren, but is that all that made the difference? Hopefully someone can shed a little light on that...

But anyway, hope yall enjoy the video I made this after someone asked me about weld strenght with the different electrodes, and I thought back to last summer to a series of posts made by CEP (although I'm not sure he's on this forum). He's a great welder and did pretty much the same test that I did, so I got his permission to copy his test and made it in video form. If you're reading this, thanks dude

yea me too for the 7018, odd that the 7014 broke before the 6013, i have run it in the past and was not impressed, although i know people who swear by it, you really have to watch the puddle so flux is not traped,i too would like to know why it broke before the 6013, unfortuanatly, i dont stock either rod

Since all rods were 1/8", why wasn't the same amperage used on all the rods? That seems like it would have been a more fair comparison test. The 7018 had more amps to burn in deeper than the other rods and that possibly could have had more impact on how well it held up compared to the other welds on lower amps. Was it the same number of rods in each weld? Again, more rods used in a given length of weld will have a bearing on how well it holds up in this kind of test. I didn't hear any mention of the number of rods used in each one.

Smash!

Yes! Your video was fun to watch. I enjoy testing stuff in the shop as well.

Although there are scientific and metallurgical factors and considerations that would provide solid data, I understand you are working at the bench here. That being said, I would agree with Bistineau - amperage and penetration would be critical in your tests. All things being equal (and I understand, shop-feasible), I think two separate tests might be the way to go. First, seeing all rods at the same amperage would be an interesting test and then a second test, with allowed ideal amperage's (specific to rod) taking great care to match all weld appearance (throat, contour, toe, etc). I realize this testing could go off the deep end. Ha ha.

Lastly, as much as I too enjoy smashing stuff with a sledge hammer, perhaps something more controlled, such as a hydraulic press may offer more consistent results.

Everything weldotron said, especially the testing with the hydraulic press. After beating on all the other pieces first with the BFH, it's possible fatigue may have started to set in some, requiring more blows to accomplish destruction. The press doesn't get tired, and can give a more accurate pressure read out for comparison purposes.
You might want to team up with Lanse on welding web.com he did exactly the same test

Since all rods were 1/8", why wasn't the same amperage used on all the rods?

That statement, by itself, shows your ignorance. Just cruise thru the Lincoln website, stopping at every PDF file for each type of rod, and take notes, you will soon see how truely stupid that thought really is.

Obviously, I'm just a hack-artist, you shouldn't be listening to anything I say .....

That statement, by itself, shows your ignorance. Just cruise thru the Lincoln website, stopping at every PDF file for each type of rod, and take notes, you will soon see how truely stupid that thought really is.

There are several here that agree with what I said on this and I haven't posted on this link. http://weldingweb.com.php?t=126451 Not all these people think it's a stupid question. This is the same test and post on a differant site.

any one testing 1 rod against another will use the proper heat range for optimum results for that particular rod, 1 size fits all will not work here
7018x1/8" @ 125 amps for flat is right on
6011 will be too hot
7014 will be cold
6013 will be hot
using the same amperage will not give accurate results
my 2 cents worth

Ok so why would OP run 7018 at 140A and 7014 at 125A when amperage ranges for both are practically the same. Would be fare if He ran these two at the same amps
Kevin